3 Inspirational Poems on Courage

In keeping with my recent theme of inspirational poems, here’s 3 more great ones that you should REALLY take the time to read.

You’ll love them.  And anyone you share them with will love them too.  

They’re share-worthy. 🙂

Steadfast Heart

I’ve dreamed many dreams that never came true
I’ve seen them vanish at dawn,
But I have realized enough of my dreams, thank God,
To make me want to dream on.

I’ve prayed many prayers when no answer came,
Though I waited patient and long;
But answers have come to enough of my prayers
To make me keep praying on.

I’ve trusted many a friend who failed,
And left me to weep alone;
But I’ve found enough of my friends true blue,
To make me keep trusting on.

I’ve sown many seeds that fell by the way
For the birds to feed upon,
But I’ve held enough golden sheaves in my hands
To make me keep sowing on.

I’ve drained the cup of disappointment and pain
And gone many days without song;
But I’ve sipped enough nectar from the roses of life
To make me want to live on.

-Unknown

This next one might sound familiar to you, because there’s another VERY famous poem that talks about tying a knot in the end of your rope.  

But this one is a little different and worth reading.  I wonder whose poem came first….

The End of the Rope

When you’ve lost every vestige of hope
And you think you are beaten and done,
When you’ve come to the end of your rope,
Tie a knot in the end and hang on.

Have courage; for here is the dope;
When you stand with your back to the wall,
Though you’ve come to the end of your rope
Tie a knot in the end and hang on.

Don’t admit that life’s getting your goat
When your friends seem to all disappear,
When you’ve come to the end of your rope,
Tie a knot in the end and hang on.

–Margaret Nickerson Martin

This next one is a little-known Edgar Guest poem that was a bit hard to find.  People all seemed to have only bits & pieces of it.  

So I stitched it together for you!  Enjoy.

Courage

Courage isn’t a brilliant dash,
A daring deed in a moment’s flash;
It isn’t an instantaneous thing
Born of despair with a sudden spring
It isn’t a creature of flickered hope
Or the final tug at a slipping rope;
But it’s something deep in the soul of man
That is working always to serve some plan.

Courage isn’t the last resort
In the work of life or the game of sport;
It isn’t a thing that a man can call
At some future time when he’s apt to fall;
If he hasn’t it now, he will have it not
When the strain is great and the pace is hot.
For who would strive for a distant goal
Must always have courage within his soul.

Courage isn’t a dazzling light
That flashes and passes away from sight;
It’s a slow, unwavering, ingrained trait
With the patience to work and the strength to wait.
It’s part of a man when his skies are blue,
It’s part of him when he has work to do.
The brave man never is freed of it.
He has it when there is no need of it.

Courage was never designed for show;
It isn’t a thing that can come and go;
It’s written in victory and defeat
And every trial a man may meet.
It’s part of his hours, his days and his years,
Back of his smiles and behind his tears.
Courage is more than a daring deed:
It’s the breath of life and a strong man’s creed.

-Edgar A. Guest (circa 1916)

I saved the best for last, right? 🙂

Actually, which one was YOUR favorite?  1, 2, or 3?

Feel free to let me know in the comments section below.  And please be sure to share this page of poems with your friends, using the social sharing buttons below.  It’s a quick thing for you, but a HUGE thing for me, as I try to resurrect my almost-dead site. LOL

-Shawn